Improvement in washing-machines



1. RIGGSBEEL Washing-Machines.

Patented Ma y20.1873.

4M. P/m'rnumoq/mPu/c an N. 15 @wmm's PROGES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JORDAN BIGGSBEE, OF OHAPEL HILL, NORTH. CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,191, dated May 20,1873 application filed March 22, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JORDAN RIGGSBEE, of Chapel Hill, in the county ofOrange and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and ImprovedWashing-Machine; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of myinvention.

Similar letters of reference in the accompanying drawing denote the sameparts.

This invention has for its object to enable the rubbing-board of awashing-machine to be let down as closely upon the fabrics being washedas may be desired, and when thus let down to be held securely in place.To this end my invention consists in the combination of parts, which 1will now proceed to describe.

In the accompanying drawing, A, is a washtub, having in its upper edgetwo recesses opposite each other, for the reception of the cross-bar 'B,which is hinged at one end to the outside of the tub. Outside the otherrecess is a catch, 0, that springs over and holds the other end of thecross-bar when the latter is turned down; this crossbar has atappedorifice at its middle,through which passes a hollow screw, D, having alever, D, at its top by which to turn it. Inclosed within the screw D isa shaft, J, having a lever, E, at its head. above the lever D, and atits lower end, below the screw D, the said shaft is attached to thecenter of the circular rubber F. The lever E suspends the rubber F fromthe top of the screw D, so that the rubber is free to revolve. Its underside is provided with ribs, and the bottom of the tub has ribs also,both for the rubbing of the clothes. The rubber F has perforationsthrough it to admit of a free fiowof suds. The cross-bar B is rsplit,asby a splittingsa'w, from its freelend nearly to its hinged end, thefissure K being interrupted by the tapped orifice, above referred to,through which the screw D passes. A bolt, G, extends across said fissurefrom one side of the cross-bar to the other, at a point between the freeend of the cross-bar and the screw D, and on the threaded end of thisbolt a nut, H, is placed outside the crossbar, said nut having a handle,I, by which to turn it.

Operation. When it is desired to put clothes into the tub beneath therubber, the course is to pull back the top of the catch 0 and raise thecross-bar B on its hinge, thus lifting the rubber clear out of the tub.The clothes having been put in, the rubber is next turned down againinto the tub above the clothes. If the free end of the cross-bar willnot go under the catch 0 by reason of the mass of clothes beneath therubber, the screw D should be run up by means of the lever D. Therunningup of the screw raises the rubber, and when the latter is raised highenough to allow the shutting of the cross-barthis is done. The rubberhaving been gotten into the right position, the cross-bar is tightenedon the screw by means of the bolt G and. nut H;

this holds the screw securely in the required position While the rubberis being revolved by means of the lever E. When the washing has beencompleted the rubber is turned up once more and the clothes removed. Thescrew arrangement enables the rubber to be let down on the fabricwithout tangling the clothes or rolling them in a knot.

By the use of the above-described means smooth or level rubbing isattained, and also a rubbing that may be made light or heavy, asdesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination of a cross-piece, B, hollow screw D, and a shaft, J,inclosed within and suspended upon said screw, and,bearing the rubber atits lower end, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the cross-piece B, hollow screw D, rubber-shaft J,and levers D E, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. The cross-piece B, having a fissure, K, extending lengthwise of thesame past the tapped orifice through which the screw passes, incombination with the boltG, hollow screw 1), shaft J, rubber F, and nutH, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Witnesses: JORDAN RIGGSBEE.

SOLOMON POOL, JONES WATSON.

